Saeed Azarshab

Approved Document K: Protection from falling, collision and impact

Statutory guidance · England-focused reference · Editorial source review:

Part K deals with protection from falling, collision and impact, including stairs, ramps, guarding and relevant glazing. The appropriate details depend on the building and where the element is used. In England, former Approved Document N glazing guidance was incorporated into K; N is not a separate current entry in this library.

Independent explanation, not an official approval or project-specific legal/design advice.

When to use this guide

  • Designing or altering stairs, landings, ramps or guarding
  • Planning a loft conversion, mezzanine or change in floor levels
  • Reviewing glazing safety and interfaces with access or escape routes

What to check

Use these prompts with the responsible project team. Ticking a box does not certify compliance.

You can tick these prompts while reviewing the project.

Download checklist (TXT)

Keep these records

  • Coordinated stair, ramp, guarding or glazing drawings
  • Product/assembly and design evidence
  • Installation inspection and change records

Common mistakes

  • Applying one stair detail to every dwelling and non-dwelling situation.
  • Checking Parts K, M and B independently without resolving conflicts between them.

When to get specialist help

Obtain competent design advice when headroom, escape, access, guarding or glazing protection cannot be resolved within the proposal.

Scope and edition

Landing published 3 January 2013. This edition combined former Approved Document N glazing guidance; N is archived rather than a separate current England entry. Coordinate accessibility with Part M. Do not apply a single stair or guarding detail regardless of building use and location.

Stairs, ladders, ramps, guarding, vehicle barriers and related glazing protection.

Use the official source to check the current text, amendments not yet incorporated, commencement and project-specific transition. A published future edition is not automatically the rule applying to your work.

Official sources

  • GOV.UK — Approved Document KOfficial England guidance; check the applicable volume, edition and transition.https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/protection-from-falling-collision-and-impact-approved-document-k

Source links lead to external official websites. We provide original explanatory notes and do not reproduce paid standards.

About this library

Independent, plain-English reference notes by Saeed Azarshab. The library covers the 42 subjects listed here; it is not every law affecting construction, an official government publication or a project-specific compliance decision. Building Regulations, Approved Documents, workplace safety duties and planning permissions have different roles.

Editorial source review: . Check the current official text, commencement dates, outstanding amendments and transitional arrangements before relying on a requirement. Publication date is not necessarily the date a rule applies. A relevant competent professional or authority must resolve project-specific questions.

Sources and lawful reuse

Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0, except where otherwise stated. These are original practical summaries, with links to the official material. No government endorsement is implied. We do not host copies of proprietary BS, ISO or Eurocode standards, third-party diagrams or publisher layouts. Check each source’s rights notice before reuse.

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